Older Toastess Electric skillet/frying pan

The friendliest place on the web for anyone that enjoys cooking.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
@caseydog You obviously didn't have 4 kids running screaming thru the house at supper time.
I often plugged in the pan before actually turning it on to cook in it. Just prepping!
My light doesn't come on until I turn the dial to start heating it.
@taxlady, I'm guessing you're not sure if your light only comes on when heating or if it's actually lit on the Off setting.
 
Why would someone plug it in, and not try to turn it on and set the temperature? I can see someone turning it on, not realizing it is unplugged, and being mad when they figure that out. But plugging it in and walking away doesn't make sense to me. :unsure:

CD

When I plug in my deep fryer, I immediately look to see what temperature it is set on, and if needed, set it to the temperature I want.

CD
 
You obviously didn't have 4 kids running screaming thru the house at supper time.
I often plugged in the pan before actually turning it on to cook in it. Just prepping!
You are correct. I would recommend doing it differently in a house full of screaming kids or full of oblivious or distracted people.

Edited to add that I just reread that quoted part. I can't imagine that's a good idea, to plug in the skillet ahead of time. That's what I wouldn't do.
 
@caseydog You obviously didn't have 4 kids running screaming thru the house at supper time.
I often plugged in the pan before actually turning it on to cook in it. Just prepping!
My light doesn't come on until I turn the dial to start heating it.
@taxlady, I'm guessing you're not sure if your light only comes on when heating or if it's actually lit on the Off setting.

We had strict rules as kids about in the house behavior vs outside behavior. My next door neighbors didn't. Mom was cooking while her three kids were running around the house and screaming. It ended like this...

1736053228109.jpeg


CD
 
Last edited:
@caseydog You obviously didn't have 4 kids running screaming thru the house at supper time.
I often plugged in the pan before actually turning it on to cook in it. Just prepping!
My light doesn't come on until I turn the dial to start heating it.
@taxlady, I'm guessing you're not sure if your light only comes on when heating or if it's actually lit on the Off setting.
Huh? The light is off when it isn't heating. It's not on in the off setting. It's on while it is heating. It's just like the light on electric ovens, well at least the old ones.
 
It's not on in the off setting.
Ahhhh, that's good. I think I was a little shocked at the idea of no light.
That would be almost like the flipper toasters. I had one at the cottage. Other than my late father-in-law, everyone hated it. LOL mainly because it meant you had to stand right there and keep on peeking to see it the toast was done, flipping it and stand guard again. I loved it and so did FIL - actually he's the one found that antique and bought it for me.
1736083334251.jpeg
I should actually find another one - works faster than the toaster oven!
 
Ahhhh, that's good. I think I was a little shocked at the idea of no light.
That would be almost like the flipper toasters. I had one at the cottage. Other than my late father-in-law, everyone hated it. LOL mainly because it meant you had to stand right there and keep on peeking to see it the toast was done, flipping it and stand guard again. I loved it and so did FIL - actually he's the one found that antique and bought it for me.
View attachment 72232 I should actually find another one - works faster than the toaster oven!
I remember seeing toasters like that. Apparently my late father in law got in trouble for cooking an egg on his toast using one of those. Obviously the one he used didn't have the fancy cut out pattern on the flaps.

My parents used to rent a cabin in the mountains when I was a kid. There, we had something similar, but it wasn't electric. It was four sided and it was used on the stove. It didn't have the flaps. It was a bit pyramid shaped. You could make four pieces of toast at once.
 
The non-electric ones are common for campers. We had those.
I first saw an electric toaster being used with my grandma. Don't remember what mom had.
 
Those electric “flap” toasters were notorious for burning the toast, and often the house down.

@taxlady I wonder if you have a spare hour somewhere, could you not set your skillet to each marker line and use a kitchen thermometer to measure each setting? Write each setting down and then you would know where each temperature lies?
 
Those electric “flap” toasters were notorious for burning the toast, and often the house down.
Absolutely - BUT - Only if you walked away and had an extremely stuffy nose!
My kids would want to toast a new piece of bread if they burnt it - but I would "uh, uh nope. You didn't pay attention so you have to eat it."

You also have to remember that those toasters came about when most homes had just gotten electricity and many had no clue how electricity worked nor what it could do and the dangers it presented.

My grandfather walked into the kitchen one day, home early from work. Literally tackled my grandmother standing on a chair reaching for the hanging light bulb with a wet cloth because it was sparking!
 
Those electric “flap” toasters were notorious for burning the toast, and often the house down.

@taxlady I wonder if you have a spare hour somewhere, could you not set your skillet to each marker line and use a kitchen thermometer to measure each setting? Write each setting down and then you would know where each temperature lies?
I thought about that. But, how are you suggesting I measure it? What do I stick the probe into? I do have a probe that measures air temperature in an oven. It has a clip so it can hang free without having the temperature sensing part touch any part of the oven. With a lot of foofing around, you can make it dangle from an oven rack. I don't know how to make that work in the smaller space of an electric skillet. Now, if I had an infrared thermometer, I could just aim it at the cooking surface.

But, I also want to know how hot the air gets when the top is on. I have, in the past, baked things in an electric skillet with a lid and what I really want to do is use it for those things that you brown in skillet on the stove top and then put the skillet in the oven to finish cooking the food. The electric skillet would be handy for that. Just put the lid on and the food can finish by baking.
 
Yes, an infrared would be best. You could use a meat thermometer with probe to measure the surface temperature of the hot plate?
The lids on the electric skillets usually have a little vent on top. I wonder if you could use the oven thermometer hanging from there, put the lid on and measure from there? It’s a bit of work, surely. Just trying to figure out how you might get what you’re looking for.
 
Might be considered a waste of oil, but how about putting about an inch of oil, start heating it up and use and instant read thermometer to measure the oil temperature.
You then adjust the dial up or down to reach the various temperatures normally set on an electric pan. I gave you those numbers earlier.

Using the lid as an oven would have to take into consideration that your foods are sitting directly on the heat source. Putting a lid on a frying pan on the burner does not make it act like an oven, does it?
Ovens have ambient temperature surrounding the object. Not just underneath, nor touching. IMHO
 
My maternal Grandfather had a big collection of these Sunbeam Toasters from the 40s,50s, and 60s. He loved them, and they made good toast. He would buy every one he found at garage sales.


CD
 
Might be considered a waste of oil, but how about putting about an inch of oil, start heating it up and use and instant read thermometer to measure the oil temperature.
You then adjust the dial up or down to reach the various temperatures normally set on an electric pan. I gave you those numbers earlier.

Using the lid as an oven would have to take into consideration that your foods are sitting directly on the heat source. Putting a lid on a frying pan on the burner does not make it act like an oven, does it?
Ovens have ambient temperature surrounding the object. Not just underneath, nor touching. IMHO
Well, I have baked potatoes in an electric skillet and even baked a cake just fine in one. I had been very skeptical about baking the cake. It didn't get even a little too dark on the bottom or sides, much to my surprise.
 
Yes, an infrared would be best. You could use a meat thermometer with probe to measure the surface temperature of the hot plate?
The lids on the electric skillets usually have a little vent on top. I wonder if you could use the oven thermometer hanging from there, put the lid on and measure from there? It’s a bit of work, surely. Just trying to figure out how you might get what you’re looking for.
Already tried to figure out how to use the vent. I don't think that touching the probe to the surface is good for the thermometer. I have a Thermapen, so I don't want to risk it. Those aren't cheap. The one that I can attach the air temp probe to is also from Thermoworks.
Might be considered a waste of oil, but how about putting about an inch of oil, start heating it up and use and instant read thermometer to measure the oil temperature.
You then adjust the dial up or down to reach the various temperatures normally set on an electric pan. I gave you those numbers earlier.
Yeah, I have considered using oil, but all I have is EVOO, organic coconut oil, some toasted sesame oil, and a small bottle of mustard oil. That pan is square and 10"x10" by about 2" deep. The lid is about 3" tall. Even an inch deep would be a fair amount of oil.
 
When next I use my electric, I'll measure the temp with an infrared when it reaches said temperature. I can measure the bare surface and also the food. There will obviously be a difference sjust as there is with a grill/oven/stove top pan.
ex. Your grill/oven/stove top pan reach 350 as the recipe recommends. But your foods never reach that temp. So what is the point of measuring the food. That same food will reach its needed temperature (ex. 165) at 325 or 350, etc. It will take various lengths of time so you still won't know your settings.
 
But, I also want to know how hot the air gets when the top is on. I have, in the past, baked things in an electric skillet with a lid and what I really want to do is use it for those things that you brown in skillet on the stove top and then put the skillet in the oven to finish cooking the food. The electric skillet would be handy for that. Just put the lid on and the food can finish by baking.
Just lower it to a simmer. Simmer can be tested with water. Boil it and then start lowering it til the bubbles are tiny and break slowly. Note your dial markings.
You might also want to elevate your foods onto wire rack, which would necessitate finding one that fits.
I do have a probe that measures air temperature in an oven. It has a clip so it can hang free without having the temperature sensing part touch any part of the oven. With a lot of foofing around, you can make it dangle from an oven rack. I don't know how to make that work in the smaller space of an electric skillet.
Use a paper clip. You can open it and twist both ends into hooks, one for the vent, other for the thermomter
Now, if I had an infrared thermometer, I could just aim it at the cooking surface.
good old Walmart One to fit all budgets.

think we have this one We've had this one for a few years. Also good for checking temperatures around windows for leak. 😁
 
When I first got an electric pan (back in the 60's) it came with a recipe for an Upside Down Pineapple Cake, Pot Roast and I think a Stew. I remember doing the Cake and the Roast, came out great. Don't remember doing the Stew but probably did.

Pot Roast knew there had to be one out there. Just google and adapt!
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom